Patrick Lencioni: Stop Feeling Guilt About What's Hard For You

The Anxious Achiever

Morra Aarons-Mele

Business, Careers, Management, Health & Fitness, Mental Health

4.7 • 599 Ratings

🗓️ 11 December 2025

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What if the things you feel most ashamed of at work are actually your superpowers? In this conversation, I sit down with bestselling author and Founder & CEO of Working Genius, Patrick Lencioni. We dive into his Working Genius framework to discover why certain kinds of work light you up while others reliably drain you. Using his six types of “genius” we explore why differently wired (aka “spiky”) brains can be massive assets in leadership when we stop trying to do everything. You’ll also hear Pat share candidly about his own anxious achieving, how working outside his genius led to grumpiness and burnout, and what changed when he finally designed his role (and team) around his true strengths. It’s time to reframe guilt and shame around your “weaknesses,” so you can lead from your zone of genius with more effectiveness, sustainability, and joy. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Working Genius. Check out our sponsors: Northwest Registered Agent - Protect your privacy, build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes! Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/achieverfree In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 How to stop feeling ashamed of what you’re not good at. 04:00 How to become boldly bad at things as a neurodistinct leader. 10:45 The six types of Working Genius and how to discover yours. 16:00 How wounds and fear can push you to overachieve at work you dislike. 18:00 What is the difference between fear-based vs. joy-based achievement? 24:00 Why burnout is more about misalignment than workload. 31:00 How knowing your team’s geniuses transform trust and accountability. 33:30 Why your team will perform better when everyone admits what they are bad at. 40:30 What should I do if my job doesn’t fit my working genius? Resources + Links Take the Working Genius Assessment HERE Use promo code ACHIEVER for 20% off Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Patrick Lencioni: on LinkedIn @patricklencioniorghealth + Instagram @patricklencioniofficial

Transcript

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0:00.0	When you're building a business, it's about a lot more than a great product or service.
0:07.6	Get more with Northwest Registered Agent at Northwest Registeredagent.com
0:13.1	slash paid achiever.
0:18.6	You know you want to start a business.
0:21.2	What you may not know is how to make it a reality.
0:24.5	GoDaddy got you.
0:26.1	Just visit goaddy.com to get started.
0:28.8	That's godaddy.com.
0:30.9	Premium features require a paid subscription.
0:33.3	See terms on site.
0:38.7	What if you just gave up feeling ashamed or guilty or embarrassed about the things that you're not good
0:47.5	at and instead found a way to work from your genius?
0:52.5	I have on the show today such a wonderful treat, the legendary author
0:58.5	and leadership expert Patrick Enchion. You probably know him from the five dysfunctions of a team.
1:05.1	We all do. But his working genius project, I think is really relevant for you, for my audience, because a lot of us,
1:16.0	we have different brains. We have genius, whether it is coming up with big ideas or seeing
1:22.8	things people just don't or even bringing a hard project to fruition. We have genius and there are many
1:31.8	aspects of work that we struggle with. So I'm going to tell you and I think Pat would agree,
1:38.5	it's time to let go of the guilt and the shame and the worry and step into your genius. So working genius
1:48.4	with Pat Lynch, I have a treat for you. You can take the working genius assessment today.
1:56.3	I did. It takes about 10 minutes. It's really easy and it's really insightful because you find out what kinds of work you enjoy and are fulfilling and you're amazing at.
2:08.5	And those ones that maybe you can do, but you don't want to do a lot.
	...

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